Can a 120 volt item be used in SA?

[adrianh]

He is referring to the little machine that makes actual water waves inside his fish tank

[HR Solutions]

He is referring to the little machine that makes actual water waves inside his fish tank

OHHHHH ............................

How come you getting it today and Im not ?

[adrianh]

OHHHHH ............................

How come you getting it today and Im not ?

[Boeriemore]

You need a simple transformer that brings down 220vAC current to 120V AC current. What is the converter for ??

Converter is for the wave makers. They have two pin plugs but I am concerned by the fact that the pins are flat (fine) but one
is wider than the other. There must be a reason for this, positive and negative perhaps?
Then to complicate things the converter with also to pin sockets has each socket hole a different shape.
The wave maker plug does not fit the converter's socket.

[adrianh]

Converter is for the wave makers. They have two pin plugs but I am concerned by the fact that the pins are flat (fine) but one
is wider than the other. There must be a reason for this, positive and negative perhaps?
Then to complicate things the converter with also to pin sockets has each socket hole a different shape.
The wave maker plug does not fit the converter's socket.

Post some pics so we can see.

[AndyD]

The voltage stated on things is a nominal figure. It won't matter if you run a 110v appliance on a 120v supply or vice versa for that matter. Some items have a very wide range of supply ie they state 100-240v for example which means they'll run almost anywhere in the world without a converter or transformer.

The bigger issue might be the frequency, USA electrical supply is 60Hz whereas the supply in SA is 50Hz. Some appliances aren't too fussy and will run on both but for others the frequency is critical. Using a transformer will change the voltage but not the frequency.

[Boeriemore]

The voltage stated on things is a nominal figure. It won't matter if you run a 110v appliance on a 120v supply or vice versa for that matter. Some items have a very wide range of supply ie they state 100-240v for example which means they'll run almost anywhere in the world without a converter or transformer.

The bigger issue might be the frequency, USA electrical supply is 60Hz whereas the supply in SA is 50Hz. Some appliances aren't too fussy and will run on both but for others the frequency is critical. Using a transformer will change the voltage but not the frequency.

Good point. Now I'm worried. The wave maker is 60hz, the converter 50hz. I will change the plug to a normal 2 pin plug then try the unit in a bucket of water. Feedback pending.

[adrianh]

I really don't think that the frequency means anything for a fish tank wave maker. The waves are going to be made on African time

[Boeriemore]

Good point. Now I'm worried. The wave maker is 60hz, the converter 50hz. I will change the plug to a normal 2 pin plug then try the unit in a bucket of water. Feedback pending.

Update: It seems to be working OK. Next problem. The wave maker at the tank's far end requires a longer lead.
I can join an extra cable length but the joint will be underwater so must be waterproof.
I thought of buying some heat shrink and maybe also use some silicon sealer. (unless there is a better way???)

[HR Solutions]

Oh boy ........ underwater joint is bad news - why don't you let the cable come up on the far end out of the water ?